a new cookie is joining the lineup. toast-yay! is a new cinnamon cookie that's supposed to taste like french toast. this is not going to help with my stress eating problem. >> i have accepted stress eating as part of my lifestyle. lester holt is next. tonight less than 48 hours of the inauguration rehearsal interrupted at a scare of the capitol. the capitol evacuated. hundreds taking cover of reported of a fire massive security in d.c. after 25,000 national guard troops, the fbi vetting them off and fearing an insider attack. serving new images from the capitol seize. some turning to family and friends. and an exclusive, joe biden's daughter worries about her father's safety as he's sworn in

president trump's pardoning, do they include himself and his family the red flag of the second impeachment trial looming and a farewell message from the first lady the u.s. surpassing 24 million covid cases and the highly contagious variant is now nearly in 20 states will they fuel another surge big business pitching into the vaccination race our exclusive with the ceo of starbucks. what can the coffee giant do to help speed the roll-out. on this martin luther king jr. day, i talk to the civil rights icon's only grandchild her message to other kids. >> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt good evening everyone, the nation remains unknown since we saw a scare at the u.s. capitol. wednesday's inauguration

realization can't ease the lingering trauma of january 6th. the latest video of the assault revealing in pictures and the words, what can only be described as a hunt for two of our most powerful leaders. this evening there are symbols of resilience, too the national mall filled by pillars of lights celebrating the inauguration let's begin with tom costello. >> reporter: more soldiers and out of state officers. right wing extremists are plotting more attacks. it was during today's inauguration's rehearsal after 10:00 a.m. that the alerts suddenly blare a threat outside the capitol >> make sure you know who's around you

if you lose anybody, let us know >> reporter: this underscores how skittish everybody is. everybody on the west from the capitol came rushing inside, shel sheltering the all-clear, nothing more than a fire underneath a near by bridge meanwhile video shot by a reporter from the new yorker magazine on the day of the attack shows a mob's intent tracking down vice president pence and speaker pelosi tonight at least 139 have been arrested by the fbi and 30 open. many tips came from facebook and instagram. among those charged, she

intended to send a computer stolen from speaker pelosi's office to russia intelligents. robert gieswein, militia member facing multiple charges including assaulting police. and a top concern tonight the number of police officers and military past and present who were part of the mob that attacked the capitol senator amy klobachar on the biden's committee. >> reporter: are you concerned of the safety of president-elect biden? >> at this point there is every reason to believe that we can go forward with the inauguration outdoors even if it is indoors,t washing state capitol is under increase sk security, what's the word on that >> reporter: no attacks materialized there is a lot of concerns of the potential for a lone wolf

attack the inauguration has to continue, you can't give into a mob. >> the fbi screening thousands of national guard members deployed to washington pete williams is here. what do we know about this >> guard mighembers have been vetted in the past but thisextee the national guards man from virginia was one of those arrested from entering the capitol illegally on january 6th. retired military members were among the rioters. this is a concern of any potential insider threat defense secretary said tonight there is no intelligence indicating there is one. the vetting will be thorough for guard members assigning nearest at the capitol in exclusive interview,

jenna bush hager asked biden's daughter about the inauguration. >> are you scared of those you love >> anybody who you love who's being threatened or -- yes, you worry. however, i also -- the secret service are incredible it is the violence deeply silence me it causes so much trauma >> you can watch much more on that interview on "today." biden begins his presidency as the country is consumed with highly contagious covid cases. >> reporter: closing in on a staggering 400,000 deaths. los angeles and new york say hospitalizations are finally

stabilizing but they are facing a growing concern. the mutant variant of the virus detected in nearly 20 states now new worry an explosion of infections will put medical center back in the brink >> it is normal to be scared but if we did not an afixhave a vac would be more worried about this >> reporter: the state is to surpass 3 million infections in california l.a. county just hit 1 million cases, it is hardly the only region in trouble. in arizona, it ranks among the highest in the world for new cases and its death rates. >> this virus does not respect the human's body it destroys the lungs and heart and there is nothing we can do

>> reporter: some funeral homes are overwhelmed, families are waiting weeks to burley loved ones while others are clinging onto hope. i have two young men in their 20s, both fighting for their lives. i know this is not going to end well >> reporter: the grim reality on the frontlines during the darkest days of the pandemic miguel almaguer, nbc news. >> all this underscores the urgent need to get vaccinated. millions are asking where and when now big businesses are pitching in here is stephanie gauss. >> tried to call back and you get a busy signal. january, march, no dates available. nothing. >> we have been frustrated >> reporter: jay inslee critical of the federal distribution. >> they started by cutting our doses in half. they don't have a reserve for the second dose.

>> reporter: today his state announced a new partnership with starbucks to help with logistics. >> just did the math and figure out at this rate of vaccinations, is going to take six or seven or eight years to this country to get vaccinated we can't think that's an acceptable pace. >> reporter: kevin johnson called governor inslee offering to help. >> starbucks, how are they going to help? >> they have been good delivering coffee around the world. they have assistance that's quite helpful. training other on vaccination c. microsoft is offering data expertise and kaiser permanente is helping with healthcare >> every state's governors all have good intent, they're trying to operationallize this. they are governors, they don't

operational things at scales, businesses do so why don't we partner with them? >> reporter: uber assists with transportations including donating 10 million free rides disney opened up a parking lot in california. >> it is that type of total mo mobilization of our community to meet ambitious targets it is time for all hands-on deck nbc news now to president trump's last 48 hours in office. new details about how he makes his exit and the possibility of more pardons >> reporter: president trump is behind closed doors, out of sight and poised to issue dozens of pardons in his final hours. three sources from the president thinking for now the president is not expected to pardon

himself or family members but is focused on other people. the president also is planning for what will likely be a red carpet send-off celebration on wednesday morning including color guards and 21-band salute. the first lady putting out a video. >> to all the people in this country, you will be many my heart forever. >> reporter: polls show americans split over impeachment. now this message to president-elect biden from the top gop senator. >> joe biden you talked about unifying the country, if you do not stand up against the impeachment of president trump after he leaves office, you are an incredibly weak figure of american history >> reporter: democrats are pushing forward. >> we all wants to make sure we get to work on the biden's agenda we need to come to terms with

what happened in our country and make it clear that this kind of conduct is unacceptable in the united states of america >> kristen, it has been awfully silent at the white house. >> reporter: that's right, the president still have the support of most republican voters. it is remarkable to see how isolated he is with many closed a advisers already parted. >> when joe biden swore in on wednesday, he's in crisis mode, the pandemic and slowing economy and immigration s are some of hi top concerns andrea mitchell. >> reporter: thousands of people hoping once donald trump is gone, they can cross the border. don't come now says the biden's team but biden is ready for an action plan. the new president will propose

sweeping legislation, a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people who are undocumented and sign an executive order reversing trump's muslim ban >> the muslim nation will welcome it >> reporter: executive order extending the pause on student loan payments, rejoining the paris accord and extending the moratorium on evictions and closures day two, aimed at safely reopening schools and businesses says chief of staff ron klain. >> getting these vaccinations metro moving and getting help to reopen schools safely and giving the people the protective gears they need. >> i believe we have a moral obligation

>> reporter: next week actions to get people to buy america to help the community of color and expand access to healthcare for low income women all in the first ten days because joe biden knows he can't wait for the first 100 days. lester >> andrea mitchell, thank you alex padea faces a daunting task the neighborhood where he was raised has some of the highest covid rates. >> reporter: a quarter of all the students in this school are homeless >> this is a community that had a lot of pain. >> reporter: now crippled with record covid rates we visited a foo is down the block. in coming senator, alex padea is

from this center >> the virus impacted lower income community it is working class. >> reporter: researchers predicted california would be the epicenter of the next covid wave because it has the most economic inequality in the country. in brentwood where vice president harris had a home, covid cases averages 601,000 cases. many people here can't work from home so they get infected at their workplaces and bringing the virus to the family. senator padea is headed to washington with all these in mind >> we have to advance policies and living wages the wage to raise a family is different in different parts of the country. here in los angeles, people are feeling the pinch. >> reporter: a pinch with lives on the line. jacob soboroff, nbc news, los angeles.

a critic of vladimir putin who survived a fatal poisoning is under arrest, alexis nalvany, he was treated there for five months he faces corruption charges he says are politically motivated in 60 seconds, the car that gives new meaning to screen time

the display screens in vehicles are growing in colossal new sizes. how big is too big here is sam brock. if big is good, mercedes-benz is banking on the idea hyper large is better. automakers are taking what we see on our phone and they are putting on their dashboards. >> reporter: the uptake of systems and cars made by teslas and others a trend safety groups say could

pose real dangers. >> we are pushing the venvelope of how careful we can be and having the entertainment system inches from our face typical 55 inch screen tv, instead it is hanging on your wall, it will be inside your car in a shame of a dashboard. >> reporter: mercedes-benz says the screen will be intuitive and easy to operate. >> if your eyes wander over to where your seat mate is watching a movie, it will turn off the movie. >> reporter: technology that needs to keep us safer as distracted driving makes the road more dangerous than ever. up next, a winning moment between two nfl greats

it was a battl of nfl le y >> reporter: as he played his last game, drew brees, the 42-years-old speaking following a disappointing playoff loss to tampa bay. >> i appreciate all this game have given to me >> reporter: he blew kisses to the crowd. brees was later seen unwhining with his family on the field where he's legend and joined by tom brady, the 43-years-old who defeated his old friend. >> i think so much of him as a

player and person and everything i know him pretty well he's an incredible player and competitor >> reporter: as brady moves on, he threw a touchdown pass to one of brees' sons icons, the greats. >> up next, inspiring words from the granddaughter of martin luther king jr the legacy of

king jr. has inspired and challenged generations but no one more than a young girl who was apart of that legacy >> reporter: 12-year-old yolanda rene king, the only granddaughter of martin luther king jr. >> what do you want people to know about your grand dad? >> he was a father and a son, he was a husband. you know most people know him as dr. king but he had a family as well, you know he was really involved with his kids and growing up, my family has all told stories about him and after a long day of work being that dad and i want people to know that as well >> reporter: yolanda rene

invoked her grandfather's famous words when she spoke in washington, d.c. >> i have a dream that enough is enough >> reporter: there are things that you do that says boy, that's something my grandpa would have done. >> yes in some ways i think i have some of his qualities i want to be like him but i want to make my own footsteps my parents encouraged me to make my own footsteps >> i want to ask the young people here to join me in pledging that we have only just begun. her message to other kids to do something. >> there is no one way to do it. you should have fun and find something that you are good at and use it for good. that's all what activism is all about. >> an impressive youngady. l that's tonight's "nightly news." thank you for watching take care of yourself and each other, i am lester holt. we leave you on this day the challenge of america holds as truth today as it did when it

was first spoken >> i have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed. we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

i'll show you when the wind calms down and when rainfall returns. >> plus, honoring martin luther king jr. >> we are all are worth unity. we all want the dream to stay alive. >> the different ways the bay area marked this day honoring the late civil rights leader. >> the news at 6:00 starts right now. good monday. thanks so much for joining us. we begin with the strains of the coronavirus. scientists have found one that is becoming increasingly common in the bay area. the strain is different from the highly contagious uk strain that is making headlines. it is linked to several outbreaks in the south bay. 90 employees and patients were infected. researchers are now trying to determine if this new strain is more infectious than the original virus. >> what people think is happening, this is not been proven